Wrench.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

VVILLIAM RUNDQUIST, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T O HENRY G.WEATHERILL, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

wRENcH.

SPECIFICTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,017, dated April 29,1902.

Application filed November 16, 1901. Serial No. 82,589. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it mety concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM RUNDQUIST, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vrenches; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in wrenches.

It has for its object to simplify construction, add to the durabilityand strength of the wrench, lessen cost of manufacture, and to otherwiseimprove the ut-ility of the same. It is also applicable as a pipe or nutwrench and is readily actuated or manipulated.

It consists of automatically separable j aws, combined with a slidingmember or follower adapted to initially engage or actuate said jaws attheir inner ends from the outer lateral edges or angles, and of such afollower or sliding member adapted to guard the screw' carrying theactuating-nut from lateral resistance, all substantially as hereinaftermore fully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, Figure1 is a side ele- Vation. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation at one side ofthe jaws. thereof.

It Will be understood that I do not restrct myself to details, as theymay be changed without departing from the spirit' of my invention andthe same yet remain intact and be protected.

In carrying out my invention I provide a Fig. 3 is a cross-section? endportions to permit the spreadin g apart of said jaws, as in receiving orapplying them to a pipe or nut to be acted upon.

A sliding member or follower 4, preferably of the construction shown,havinga straight or rectilinear 'actuating surface or edge and Acorresponding lateral or end portions, is arrangedwithin theV closure orcasing 1, with its actuating edge presented toward the inner ends of thejaws 2 and adapted to initially engage i or contact with the outercorners or angles of said ends of said jaws. Said follower or member 4has extending centrally from its inner longitudinal edge or surface ascrewthreaded stem or rod 4a, and receiving said rod or stem ispreferablyan annular nut 5, with its inner screw-threaded surfaceengaging the corresponding screw-threads of said stem or rod to effectthe actuation of said follower or member. Said nut has an externalmilled or roughened surface for convenience or facility in manipulatingit, and it protrudes through lateral openings in the closure or casing 1for the application of the hand or fingers thereto.

It will be observed that by applying the jaws to the nut or pipe, saidjaws having been spread apart, and then by applying the hand or fingersto the nut, so as to operate said nut, the follower or member 4 Will beforced against the outer corners or angles of the in- -ner ends of saidjaws, and thus throw or force said jaws together, gripping therebetweenthe nut or pipe, after which of course the hand or fingers are removedfrom said nut. By this construction and arrangement of parts the lateralthrust of the jaws is received upon the follower braced against theinterior Walls 9 the follower or its equivalent is required to effectthis, thus preventing any binding tendency of said stem upon the handleor other means receiving it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a Wrench, the combination with a casing open at its forward endand having rear- Wardly extending parallel. walls, of jaws adapted to beautomatically spread apart, a follower extending from wall to wall ofthe casing and having a rearwardly-extending central, threaded portion,and means for actuating said follower.

2. In a wrench, the combination of a easing having its npperand lowerWalls parallel in its forward portion, and converging in its rearwardportion, of jaws adapted to be automatically spread apart, a follower toengage the outer angles of the inner ends of said jaws, and adapted tohave its edges in bearing contact with the inner face of the Walls ofthe casing and to seat itself, Valvelike, in the converging portion ofthe casing when the jaws are fully spread apart, and means for actuatingsaid follower.

In testimony Whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM RUNDQUIST.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE E. ALLEN, E. O. MORGAN.

